You won't regret it. I have an S80 with 106k on a 200 Y plate, and it's great. Not an enormous amount of room in the back seats of the S60, but ok for kids I guess. We're not all that keen on people in the back of them at work as it's all a bit tight. Fab car though.
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Thanks Orson. The rear seat room isn't an issue as the Mondeo it's replacing has had the kids in the back maybe twice since we bought the Scenic. The Scenic is also our weekend family runabout, so probably >95% of this car's mileage will be commuting with just me in it. It is not unusual for the Mondeo to be parked up on the drive Friday evening and not turn a wheel until Monday morning, and the Volvo will probably be the same.
Just trying to organise some reasonably priced temporary insurance cover now. My policy is one of the shrinking minority that still covers me TP on any vehicle not belonging to me, but you know what they say about a certain law named after a small piece of turf.....
Cheers
DP
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a whole weeks test drive is a great idea.
i could have saved many thousands by having a week to fiddle with it
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The best bit is, it's doing him a favour as well, as his new car arrives Monday, and he moves house on the Friday. Apart from the nightmare of changing phone numbers, he's got far more important priorities right now than selling a car, and with parking at his current house being very tight, having the Volvo out of the way for a week suits him.
My interest in the week's test drive is more for fuel economy monitoring than anything else. It's going to be hard going from a 46 mpg diesel to this while doing 20k a year (although forecast to drop), but I want to know exactly how hard before I commit. I do intend to jack it up and have a good crawl underneath it with a lead lamp while I have it though - it would be rude not to.
Cheers
DP
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I have a diesel 2005 version, owned from new with 85,000 miles on and it is a great beast. Fast, reliable and (joy of joys) not a common car. Looks don't date either. Seats v.good (done 12 and 14 hour straight journeys and got out still feeling refreshed. Sound system good too.
A colleague has the 2.0T engine in his V70 (heavier car) and he gets 32mpg average - not bad. Find a local Volvo specialist and the servicing won't be expensive either. Have a look at the owners club for tips.
If after a year you find the fuel cost prohibitive you will still be able to sell it for what you paid for it for sure. Go on, you know you want to.....enjoy!
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Fine - go for it then - you'll love it. I'd echo slightlyfatdirector - mine has also done cross-Europe jaunts, and the seats are the best that this very fat tall chap has seen!
As far as insurance goes, try moneysupermarket or the price comparison sites. I saved a packet on switching my insurance. I'm now with Autotrader insurance for about £370 comp, protected NCD and 3rd party on other cars. Not bad for 25k miles a year and parked on the street!
O
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If after a year you find the fuel cost prohibitive you will still be able to sell it for what you paid for it for sure. Go on, you know you want to.....enjoy!
I hope so.
Because I've been thinking about it non-stop all week, and having just been and driven it again, and based on all the good feedback on this site and various buying guides, I've bought it. It's a lovely car and I'm willing to chance the economy side of it. As you say I can always move it on again if its prohibitive, as it's a nice example.
It was going to cost me £50 to insure it for a week, plus although he said it was cool with him, I didn't want to take advantage by using it (just in case something happened to it and a good friendship was at stake).
So it's done. Should be picking it up at the weekend subject to logistics.
Plunge taken! Feels good.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 26/02/2008 at 20:40
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it would be nice to get a mini review when you've done a thousand miles in it.
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Bit late in the picture, but...
If it manages 30 mpg it's going to cost just over £1k more to fuel it over a year. If it drops to 25 mpg it's going to cost c£1650 a year more to fuel it (on 20k).
I think it will be fun for the first week, then you will get fed up with spending all your time (and money!) at the petrol station!
£2.5k would have bought a nice condition Xantia HDi with half the miles....
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£2.5k would have bought a nice condition Xantia HDi with half the miles....
I'm not a fan of the Xantia, but I take your point. There were other choices available.
I take your point on the economy, and you could well be right. If this is the case, I'll punt it on and easily get my money back. My mileage next year will drop anyway. I'm now spending more and more time working from an office half the distance away, and the company is introducing home working for the next fiscal year. But I am open to the idea that it could prove too much and will take action as appropriate
The Mondy is now on Fleabay. No reserve. It's gained a watcher an hour so far.
tiny.cc/mtmIN
Cheers
DP
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33-34mpg should be achievable without too much effort; that's what I averaged when I ran my 2.0TS for about 50K miles from 2004-06. Car was faultless and I think I miss it!
Economy does plummet over 90mph, but that's true of every car!
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If it manages 30 mpg it's going to cost just over £1k more to fuel it over a year. If it drops to 25 mpg it's going to cost c£1650 a year more to fuel it (on 20k).
So, compared with the depreciaiton on a newer car, not much. And in return you get performance and quality. Sounds like a good deal.
£2.5k would have bought a nice condition Xantia HDi with half the miles....
Which would not have been in as nice condition as the Volvo. Why are people so hung up on mileage? Are you buying a car to drive or an odometer to stare at?
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The S60 has a particularly nice odometer, incidentally - in a restful shade of green, wth pleasingly proportioned digits. It looks especially good when it shows something symmetrical, like the 68889 I had on mine the other day. Couldn't wait to get home and show that to Mrs dB.
};---)
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That's the first time I've ever heard odometer quality mentioned! I look forward to evaluating this one myself! :-)
The Volvo is finished with and ready to collect anytime from today. The Mondeo's Ebay auction finishes early Friday afternoon. As soon as its new buyer picks it up (hopefully for not too much of a giveaway price - anything around the £400 mark will make me be a happy man), I'm off to collect the Volvo the same day. So, all being well I should have it by Sunday at the latest.
This is the nice thing about dealing with friends. I know he'll keep the car and he knows I'll buy (and pay). All nice and relaxed.
Cheers
DP
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Why are people so hung up on mileage? Are you buying a car to drive or an odometer to stare at?
Shh.... . If everyone starts thinking along these lines, it will be the end of cheapish high mileage cars.
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I wish you well DP with the new car. It would be great to see regular updates on this thread.
Mine has been great but is about to go and be replaced with a BM 5 series estate.
This is the only negative with my S60?: Awkward shaped boot aperture. Having said that, you can fold both the rear seats and even the front passenger seats down and I have had 50 bags of sand in it (looked like a very low-riding low-rider!), but when it comes to significant stuff (railway sleepers / Washing Machines, bicycles etc) that is where it falls down,
My very good condition company 2005 D5 S with 85,000 motorway miles (by myself from new) will be traded-in the next few weeks at £7,000 which I think will (hopefully) deliver a bargain to the next owner. (If any one wants to take it off me at a slight premium, let me know!)
I never reset the fuel consumption button and so far I am getting 52.6 to the gallon (and I am an enthusiastic, but never reckless, driver - 85 is the most I would risk). The addition of Michelin Pilot Primacy tyres dramatically reduced road noise and fuel consumption by 5 mpg, whilst the noise and grip is even better than the P6000's. I also have had a huge ammount more mileage out of the tyres. Over 30,000 miles and still 4mm on the fronts - very impressive. Highly recommended.
They really are highly underestimated cars. I drove from Sussex to Wiltshire and back with my daughter last week and we counted every S60 or Almera (wifes car) we saw each way. 3 Almeras, no S60's. We must have seen thousands of C Class's and 3 Series BM's. I like that uniqueness.
The downside is that the S60 has neither the pedigree nor the cachet of a Merc or BM, nor the quirkyness of Alfa or Saab (hurrah!).
It is safe, well spec'ed and has a great engine range but rarely sees any press attention. I got mine new from a dealer for £17,000 in 05. A massive discount from the £23,500 list, but the deal must have worked for them at the time. The residual value now isn't great, but when the new discount is taken off, as a company, we have seen depreciation of £3,300 a year over nearly 30,000 miles a year which ain't bad really.
I just hope someone gets my lovely car and enjoys it as much as I have done. If they get it at a good price then all the better.
I hope to be reading about some happy miles with your new car DP. Great to hear you are joining a select band of people who see what many other people are missing.
Shame of course that I am leaving the fold. Going, but always an S60 fan......
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Thanks, and yes no problem I will keep you up to date with how it goes.
The load space and rear seat limitations are really not an issue. Our Grand Scenic is all the people and load carrier we could ask for, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've even had people in the back of the Mondeo since it was retired from main family car duty. It is usually me only, and when we go out as a family, we take the Scenic (or "the spaceship" as it's become affectionately known)
I really like the relative rarity of the S60 as well, and it is a big part of the appeal along with the fantastic build quality. It's far more impressively put together than any of the VWs in our family, and in a different stratosphere to the Mondeo (which itself is not bad). I've never driven a car with this mileage that genuinely does feel so "new". Even the doors still "thunk" shut with none of the slightly loose feel that signifies hinge or latch wear on most cars as they get older.
Oh, and I am a sucker for a five pot ever since I drooled over my first Audi ur-quattro. I can't wait to pick it up.
Mondeo's currently at £300 with two and a bit days left, but has 41 watchers!
Cheers
DP
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OK the Mondeo has gone (to Poland - see other thread) and the S60 is now sitting on the drive. I picked it up this afternoon, and have racked up about 75 miles in it. First impressions are very positive.
Engine is a gem. Super smooth, has torque everywhere (flat curve from 2200-5500 RPM according to the handbook and I can believe it), is near silent under 3k, and wonderfully tuneful above it. The sound level is beautifully judged - just the right volume to be interesting but not enough to be intrusive.
I've driven far quicker cars, but not many more effortless ones. Favourite aspect of the performance is to exit a roundabout onto a slip road at say 25 mph in 3rd, squeeze it on, and be doing an easy 80 by the time you reach the bottom in one long, deep chested pull. It's a very smooth, mellow, muscular feeling engine which will pull from idle and haul the car up to the legal limit without sounding the slightest bit troubled by the task. Idles nearly silently, even with this mileage.
Interior feels like it's been hewn from rock. Not a single squeak from the dash plastics, and lovely, good quality materials used. Seat material isn't even creased, never mind worn. I also now understand the earlier comment about the green illumination. It's softer than the Mondeo's and very soothing. The best seats of any car I've owned without a doubt, and among the best of any I've driven. Excellent driving position. Felt at ease with the car within 500yds.
Handles very tidily, but steering is overlight and numb after the Mondeo's. Not much feel really, which is a shame because it seems quite capable. Softish ride, yet not too much roll, and turns in well for a car of this size. Like most modern cars, you just feel a bit detached from the experience.
Excellent brakes.
Control layout is also very logical, although the centre console is a little busy with a big Dolby Pro Logic radio / in dash CD changer / cassette deck(!). Beautifully clear dials. Yellow triangle that accompanies the bulb failure warning is hugely annoying - rectifying this is the first job on the list.
No fuel computer (it was an option on the early S models apparently) which is a surprise.
Love the "space ball" gear lever base. Looks so much cooler than a gaiter.
Brimmed the tank and done 75. something miles. Gauge has moved a needle's width. I know this doesn't mean much, but it's encouraging. Despite a few prods and explores of the rev range (and just to get an earful of the engine note), I've not thrashed it, mostly because I'm conscious that it has 15,000 mile old oil in it at the moment.
Faults found so far: Bulb failure warning, odd, distant squeak from steering column (sounds like plastics rubbing), particularly when manoevring after a cold start. Other than that I really can't find anything wrong. It all works, the brakes pull up square, and the suspension is all quiet.
I'll post again in a couple of weeks after the grind of the commute and with an idea of fuel consumption. I have a mate doing a service and giving her the once over during this week.
Cheers
DP
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Belated 120k service (oil and filter change basically) done this evening by a (VW) mechanic mate, who put the car up on the ramp and had a good prod and poke around. The only thing he found was front pads that probably only have another 6-7k left. - which I knew about. Otherwise he proclaimed her fit and healthy. Bushes all good, no play in any bearings, no fluid leaks and no signs of impending problems. Reckons I got a bargain.
Steering column squeak was a dry bush - put a bit of lube on it and it's shut up.
So, 6 litres of Fuchs XTR, a new filter and the princely sum of £50 later (he's a good chap!) I have a car which is in good shape.
Bulb warning sorted (each tail light has two bulbs and one of the two had gone on one side).
Will post a detailed report on the car after a couple of weeks, but I am smitten so far. It's a comfy, quick, well equipped and beautifully built car, which is an absolute joy to drive.
Cheers
DP
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Glad you're liking it.
I loved my old Volvo V40 2.0T, the best seats I've ever experienced and the overtaking punch / relaxed drive was great (even better after adding a bleed valve from Kalmar Union :-D)
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